Coal Scam: Sonia Gandhi, Congress rally around 'upset' Manmohan Singh

It must be one of the darkest days in former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's life, when he got summoned by a court in connection with coal scam case.

A visibly disturbed Manmohan Singh termed the development as 'painful' and said, "I am upset, but this is a part of life, truth will prevail."

The 82-year-old is being investigated by CBI for criminal conspiracy and corruption in relation to the allotment of a coal field in Odisha's Talabira block in 2005 to Hindalco, owned by industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla. Singh held direct charge of the Coal Ministry at that time.

Congress was on tepid defence and Randeep Surjewala said that Singh's integrity, fairness, impartiality and adherence to transparency is unimpeachable and unquestionable. He also accused the BJP of trying to politicise an on-going judicial process.

While other political parties took a clear view that Singh's personal integrity is irrefutable.

"No question" on former PM's personal integrity: BJP

Surprisingly, it was a calculated restraint by the BJP telling that there is "no question" on the former Prime Minister's personal integrity, but added that he "turned a blind eye" to corruption around him.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi and over 100 party leaders on Thursday, March 12 walked in a large group to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's residence, in a striking show of solidarity.

Will fight with all our means at our command: Sonia Gandhi

Sonia Gandhi asserted that Manmohan Singh will be vindicated, and added, "He is known not just in India but throughout the world as a person of integrity and probity. We are fully behind him and we shall fight this not only legally but with all our means at our command."

Political analysts are of the opinion that it was a desperate measure of party Chief Sonia Gandhi to save his party, and party stalwart and to send out a loud and clear message in support former prime minister of Congress-led government.

Summon to Manmohan Singh may also aggravate the already disturbed atmosphere in the Rajya Sabha where arguments and debates have been conducted over Land Bill and other crucial bills.